Vertical drying and dehydrating apparatus



Dec. zo, 1927. l 3 A 1,653,332

M. -BAECHLER VERTICAL DRYING' AND DEHYDRATING APPARATUS Filed oct. `19.` '1925 Fig-3 1 i Hllllllllll-JIIII A mmmmll-mu Patented Dee. zo, I1927.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFrlcE.

max Bancarias, or Panis, FRANCE, AssIGNon ro BAECHLER, mann. a' c1111., or

raars, ramcn.-

4 VERTICAL DBYING AND DEHYDRATING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 19, 1925, Serial No. 83,495, and in France October 81, 1924.

The present invention has for its object an apparatus adapted for drying all kinds of products, in which the substance to be ldried is yexposed to a stream of hot air in ,a yparticular manner.` This apparatus is characterized by the combination, in the in# terior of a vertical cylinder, of metal trunfcatcd cones into which the material to be dried falls successively, with stationary plates on which turn blade devices mounted on a vertical shaft, the rotation of the said blades being adapted to cause the material to be treated to pass from one truncated cone to the'next truncated cone through a l5 stream Aof hot air which asses through the vertical cylinder prefera ly from the bottom to the top.

In thev accompanying drawing there is illustrated solely by way of example one form of construction of the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section of the device.

Figure 2 is'a'plan. view of one of theplates with its blade device.

As shown in the drawing, the apparatus consists of a stationary vertical cylinder 1 in which rotates a centralvertical shaft 2. In the interior of the c linder are mounted truncated cones 3 of slieet metal plates at suitable distances apart. These truncated cones, of which the large base is of the same diameter as the cylinder 1, are adaptedto conduct the product 4 to be dried which they receive from the top towards the centre. Underneath each truncated cone is secured a horizontal plate 5 upon which rotates a bladey device whose hub 6 is keyed to the shaft 2. The blades 7 of this device extend slightly beyond the outlet from the truncated cones 3, one or more 7 of these blades being extended to the periphe of the plate in such a manner as to comp etely remove from the latter the roduct to be treated. The hopper 8 from w ch leads 'a pipe 9 and a nozzle 10 is provided at the upper end of the cylinder 1. The lower ortion 11 of the cylinder forms a collector or the dried materials. Into the lower portion there extends a fitting 12 which supplies hot air which escapes through the fitting 13 provided at the upper part of the cylinder outside the irst truncated cone. The rotation of the shaft 2 and the blade devices is proit is vremoved ina dry condition by means of a suitable device such as a worm conveyor 15 'for example. The stream of hot air which is drawn through the littin 13, for example by means of a fan not s own, is supplied to the bottom of the cylinder 1 by the fitting 12 and firstly strikes against the lower plate which it heats energetically as' also the material which has reached this plate. The hot air passes around the periphery of the plate and' then into the lower truncated cone through free spaces formed by the blades during their rotation. This air then impinges upon the second late and so onfrom stage to stage, and nally escapes through the fitting 13. It will be seen thatthe drying is effected in a very economical manner by reason of the fact that the material is heated on the successive plates f and also by reason of the fact that duringI its downward movement it moves in ,a d1- rection opposite to that of thestream of hot air. No disadvantageous settling of the material can take place, as is the case 1n a number of vertical driers, and the escape of the sftxeam is largely ensured by reason of the ee the b ades due tothe brushin away of the materialsv by means of these b ades.

In connection with certain products it y possible to omit the distributor whose 2p. eration, in such a case, is fulfilled by e first blade device. When the products to be treated are very moist openings may provided in the upper parts of the truncated cones for the purpose of enabling a determined` uantity of saturated air to be withdrawn (directl without coming into contact with the p ucts. This device has the advantage of supplementary heating passages provided for the air behind beloo of the saturated air at the top of the apptratus thus preventing condensation thereo The diameter and number of plates depend upon the output to be obtained or the nature of kthe product to be dried. The control of the output of material is obtained by means of a device not shown enabling the distance between thelower parts of the truncated cones and the plates to be varied. When devices are not provided with this adjusting device the output is controlled by the speed imparted to the central shaft.

It will be understood that the apparatus which has been described has only been given by way of example and that it is capable of being modified 1n detail without departing from the scope of the invention by reason of these modifications.

Thus for example the shape and the dimensions of the truncated cones as also that of the blade devices may be varied according to requirements and in some cases the plates with stationary blade devices combined with` rotary plates.A

In apparatus with stationary plates, the hub of the blade devices is secured to the shaft by a pin or key which, while ensuring the driving of the device, enables this to slide along the shaft. This method of connection has for its object to ensure perfect contact between the plate and the blade device by reason of the weight of the latter.

Independently of its use for drying any suitable material, the apparatus described may also serve as a dehydrator for gases or any suitable materials and more particularly for alcohol vapours. Inthe latter case the apparatus is completely heated andthe plates may be perforated.

Having thus described' my invention what I claim as new and desire' to secure by Letters Patent is :e

1. A vertical apparatus adapted for drying and dehydration purposes comprising a vertical cyilnder, a plurality of truncated cones mounted one above the other inside said cylinder, said truncated cones having a base equal in diameter to the internal diameter of the cylinder, and means for supplying and circulating hot air through said cones, a horizontal plate arranged underneath each cone, a` vertically driven shaft extending centrally through the cylinder and through the cones, and blade devices co-operating with said plates, relative movement being permitted between the horizontal plates and the blade devices, and means for adjusting the relative position between the horizontal plates and the truncated cones.

2. Vertical drying and de-hydrating apl paratus for solids, gases and fluids comprising a vertical cylindrical casing, charging means at the upper end of said vertical cylinder, a conical collecting device at the lower end off'said vertical cylinder, dischargin means in said collecting chamber,

a plurality of inverted truncated metal cones mounted one above the other inside said cylinder, the larger base of said cones being of the same diameter as the internal diameter of the cylinder, a vertical shaft extending centrally through said cones and said cylinder, means for driving said shaft, a plurality of horizontal plates arranged one underneath each cone, a plurality of blade devices arranged one aboye eac-h plate and adapted to co-operate therewith, said plates being stationary whilst the blade de- Vices are driven by said shaft, the blade devices being longitudinally movable on said shaft, and means for passing-a stream of hot air through the interior of said cylinder.

, MAX BAECHLER: 

